This fall, Dr. Ablo Prudence Wachinou, a pulmonologist and clinician-researcher from Benin, completed an intensive 4-week training at the Faculty of Medicine in Ottawa. The fellowship enhanced his academic, clinical, and teaching expertise, contributing to capacity-building efforts that support medical education and research development in West Africa. His stay included a range of training activities in clinical care and resuscitation, as well as simulation and preceptorship, artificial intelligence in health care, point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), program evaluation, and clinical observations in his field.
Dr. Wachinou serves as a pulmonologist at the National University Hospital Center for Pneumo-Phthisiology in Cotonou. He also holds the position of Associate Professor and Clinician-Researcher at the Faculty of Health Sciences (FSS) of the University of Abomey-Calavi, where he leads the Partnership and International Cooperation Office. His experience at the University of Ottawa represents a pivotal step, both for the advancement of his career and for the improvement of medical education in Benin.
“This program exposed me to international standards in medical education and comes at the perfect moment to give new momentum to my career. It allows me to improve how I teach my discipline, supervise my learners, and accelerate my research..”
Dr. Ablo Prudence Wachinou
— BCDI 2030 Fellow, University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine
This development placement falls under the BCDI 2030 program, an $80-million initiative financed by Global Affairs Canada and carried out by the consortium of Colleges and Institutes Canada and Universities Canada. Over eight years, the program will support more than 500 professionals and researchers in Sub-Saharan Africa, with particular attention to francophone communities and women’s participation.
The University of Ottawa is part of the select group of Canadian institutions designated to receive these fellows and support the development of future leaders in global health. Upon his return, Dr. Wachinou will apply these new skills in both his academic teaching and clinical work, creating a meaningful impact on students, care teams, and the patients he serves. He plans to share the knowledge acquired with other faculty members at FSS and implement new pedagogical and clinical practices adapted to the Beninese context. Dr. Wachinou shared, “This training will have an undeniable impact on the Faculty of Health Sciences in Cotonou through the debriefing that will be shared with other instructors. It will strengthen the quality of teaching, research, and patient care.”
He also hopes to encourage other health professionals across Africa to engage in impactful international collaborations.
“I encourage others not to miss the exceptional opportunity to become BCDI scholars and University of Ottawa alumni. It is a unique experience that can change an entire life!”
Dr. Ablo Prudence Wachinou
— BCDI 2030 Fellow, University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine
The BCDI 2030 program, dedicated to developing local expertise, illustrates a collaborative vision of health based on equity, knowledge sharing, and support for partner communities. By welcoming fellows like Dr. Wachinou, the University of Ottawa solidifies its standing as a bilingual leader promoting equitable, inclusive, and sustainable global health.